Steel wool pad



H. A. DYER STEEL WOOL PAD Sept. 14, 1937;

Filed Sept. 27, 1934 INVENTOR HERBERT f2 DYE-R BY 2 I B I z ATTORNEYPatented Sept. 14, 1937 PATENT OFFICE STEEL WOOL PAD Herbert A. Dyer,Far Rockaway, N. Y., assignor to American Steel Wool Mfg. Co. Inc., New

York, N. Y.

Application September 27, 1934, Serial No. 745,666

1 Claim.

This invention relates to abrasive pads and, more particularly to steelwool pads intended primarily for industrial purposes.

In the use of steel wool pads of prior known constructions, the abrasiveaction of the pad is very uneven because the pressure applied to the padis, not distributed uniformly over the surface which is in contact withthe object subjected to its action. For this reason, the abrading action1'0 of the pad is irregular and, in some instances, alternate ridges anddepressions are formed in the surface of the object due to the fact thatthe pad is so held and the pressure is so applied that a relatively highpressure is exerted in the re- 15 gion proximate the fingertips while arelatively low pressure is exerted at other portions of the pad.

An object of the present invention is to provide a steel wool pad soconstructed that the pressure 2 applied thereto in using the pad isdistributed uniformly over the entire surface in contact with the work.

It has been proposed to form laminated steel wool pads so thatsuccessive layers of the pad F25 could be removed when they lose theirabrasive action whereby to expose unused portions of the pad. It hasbeen proposed to form a pad of this type by spirally winding on itself afiat strip of steel wool, made up of steel wool strands extendinglongitudinally of the strip, and to subsequently expose unused portionsof the pad by unwinding said strip. However, in pads of this type, it isdifiicult to properly remove the used outer layer from the adjacentunused layer be- 35 cause during the use of the pad the uneven pressureexerted thereon causes the layers to become so matted or entangled thatin attempting to remove a used layer, portions of the adjacent unusedlayer are also removed and when the used layer tears, which isfrequently'the case, portions thereof remain attached to the adjacentunused layer. Thus, there usually results a waste of material due to theremoval of unused steel wool, and an unsatisfactory abrasive sur- 45face is formed because of the presence of adhered portions of used steelwool of reduced or negligible abrasive or polishing properties.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a laminated steelwoolpad in which the used layer can be removed readily from the adjacent unused layer.

A further object of this invention is to provide a pad of predeterminedsize and shape and so constructed that it can be operated by a machine.

A yet further object of this invention is generally to improve theconstruction of steel wool pads whereby to obtain improved results inthe utilizationthereof.

. According to a preferred embodiment of this 5 invention, there isdisposed within the pad a substantiallyrigidflat core or plate locatedbe tween a plurality of substantially fiat layers of steel wool in aplane parallel with the upper and lower surfaces of the pad. Said plateis co- 1 extensive in length and substantially coextensive in width withthe length and width, respectively, of the steel wool layers of the pad.By virtue of this construction, pressure exerted on the pad during itsuse is distributed evenly over 15 the active surface of the pad so thata uniform abrading action is obtained, distortion of the pad isprevented, and the layers of steel wool are maintained in such conditionas to permit a used layer to be unwound without being torn and withoutremoving portions of the adjacent unused layer.

The invention Will best be understood from the following descriptionread in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a steel wool pad embodyingthe presentinvention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a strip or ribbon of arbitrary length ofsteel wool which may be employed in forming the pad shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 'is a section on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1; Figs. 4 and 5 are viewsof cores of modified constructions which may be used in the pad shown inFig. 1.

According to the present invention the steel wool pad 10 shown in Fig. 1comprises a plurality of steel wool layers l2 and a pressuredistributing member here shown as a fiat rectangular core or plate l4disposed between said 40 layers and preferably coextensive in lengththerewith. The core or plate I4 is of substantial rigidity whereby thepressure applied to the pad during its use is distributed uniformly oversubstantially the entire area of the active or abrading surface of thepad in contact with the object subjected to the action of said surface.For this purpose, the plate I4 may be made of card board, wood or othersuitable material, of a thickness which affords this function. It willbe un- 0 dersto'od, however, that while the plate I4 is sufficientlyrigid thus to distribute uniformly the pressure exerted on the pad, saidplate is prefdesired, a handle or holder maybe attached to the pad tofacilitate its manipulation.

In the construction shown in Fig. 1, the side edges 16 of the core 14are smooth and the core is of uniform width. As there is a substantialamount of friction between the edges I6 of the core and the adjacentlayer of steel wool, the

core'issecurely held in positionwithin thepad. However, in 1 orderto'more securely v look the core within the pad or to prevent the steelwool layers from being displaced longitudinally. of the core,particularlywhen the steel wool layers. are wound somewhat loosely,either ofgthe core);

constructions shown in Figs, .4 and .5 may be utilized. For thispurposelin theiconstruction shown in Fig; 4, thecore Ma is provided withl rough or serrated edges I6a. In the construc- 'tion shown in Fig.5,"th'e core" Hlbis provided with lateral extensions I 8 definingsideedges 160 which are engaged by the steel wool strip when the latter iswound on the core, said extensions engaging opposite ends of thesaidlay- :ers, thereby to prevent the latter from being displacedlongitudinally of the"core.. In other respects the cores I la and-14bare of the; same construction asthe 'core' 14. w i 1 7 As shown in .Figlythe layersl2 are formed by winding a steel wool strip 12?, illustratedin Fig. 2,-about 'the'iplate M, initially in engagement'with the sideedges 16 of said plate'fand subsequently in'e'ngagement 'with theadjacent inner layer of 'steel wool, the engagement of said layers atthe edges of the pad being along substantially circular'arcs of about180 and the engagement of said layers atthe sides of the pad'beingsubstantially in flat. planes spaced from each otherby the thickness ofeach layer. The'strip I! of whichthe pad is formed is composed of asuitable thickness of steel wool strands which extend longitudinally ofthe strip in substantially parallel relation, said strands,

however, being somewhat irregular and. wavy and-therefore, interlockingwith each other to form a compa'ct s'trip. In for'ming' said strip,loose steel wool strands are arranged in long itudinally extending andsubstantially parallel relation and are then compressed toform a compactstrip which will provide the definite layers l2 of substantially uniform'thickness in the pad II! when wound about the plate 14.

The pad as thus constructed is wella dapted to accomplish the objects ofthis invention, since "While; thel preferredi:iembodimerit of the Vquired' by the appended claim.

the substantially rigid plate prevents excess pressure from beingexerted in some portions of the active surface of the pad whileinsufficient pressure is exerted on other portions of. said surface.Thus, a uniform abrading or polishing action of great efficiency isobtained and l the steel wool is maintained substantially in itsoriginal well defined layersv Sothat aused layer can be readily unwoundand reversed to permit use of its opposite unused surface or to permit10 its removal from the pad to expose for use an 1 adjacent unusedlayer. Also, said plate prevents distortion of the pad. and maintainsthe abrading surface thereof in flat uni-planor condition.

Furthermore; thesize and shape of the pad is 15 predetermined andmaintained constant by the plate; and as the size and shape of the padis thus maintained constant substantially through V out .its life, itcan be used as atool'in an abrading or polishing machine.

present p'ad andi'esever'al 'r'nodifi'c'ations'a of the 7 pressuredistributing 'memberf ha'v ei be'eng dfsclosed; it will be'iunderstoodthat the construc- Therefore, I do not wish' to be li'rriited to theprecise constructions shown except as may be retions disclosed arenot=exhaustive ot the practical embodiments. -:of the'presntiinventio'n.

WhatI claim is: i i 1 tact with the object subjected to thefaction ofisaid surface, "said ribbon being wound spirally about said padiforminga-plurality of flatlayers of steel Wool capable of 'bein unwundqazte'r an unused layer, 'substant'ially without' disiritegrationthereof sub tantial cohesion: "be. j ween portions 5 of" the unwound 5 lyer nd the jacent. unused layer;'

